Nature article: Intelligent Design

The idea of intelligent design is being promoted in schools and universities in
the United States and Europe. Rather than ignoring it, scientists need to
understand its appeal and help students recognize the alternatives.


Scientists tend to tune out when they hear the words 'intelligent design'. The
concept, which endeavours to show God's hand shaping the course of evolution,
is being promoted in parts of Europe and, more significantly, has recently
become popular among Christian fundamentalists who want religion taught in US
secondary schools. To most researchers it sounds like politics rather than
science, and like someone else's problem.


Mixing as it does the supernatural with scientific doctrine, the concept is a
throwback to the days when natural philosophers pursued pseudoscientific
disciplines such as alchemy. But the scientific community should not ignore it.
As the article on page 1062 reveals, the concept is gaining popularity on US
college campuses.
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Nature